Book Title : Blind Fortune
Author : Joanna Waugh
Publisher : Cerridwen Press
Genre : Historical Romance
Publication Date : July 2008
ISBN : 9781419917639
Pages : 322
Series : N/A
Category : Sensual
Type : E-book

Reviewer : LK Hunsaker

4.5 Wings

Lady Fortuna Morley has determined not to allow her young cousin to fall prey to a Marquess with a villainous reputation with women. Stories of Charles Lowden’s exploits paint him as cold-hearted, and Fortuna experiences this first hand when he makes a callous remark about her blindness at their first meeting. From that point forward, she declares herself his enemy and tells him she won’t allow the marriage. As he shows her one kindness after another, however, despite his attempt to shut her out of his heart, Lowden changes in her view. The story is further complicated by her family obligations and her view of herself as not marriage material because of her blindness. Her shell cracks slowly with growing attention from the Marquess and she finds herself trying to keep it from shattering.

Joanna Waugh spins a glorious historical tale of love and passion in Blind Fortune, her debut novel. From the beginning, the scene is painted before our eyes so well we nearly hear the music as it plays and feel the night air on the balcony. Fortuna and Charles are vivid characters, full and likeable and complex, with interesting secondary characters accenting the piece. The piano on the cover is symbolic not only of their mutual love of music and an exquisitely romantic scene in the music room, but also of the dance of their hearts while they circle each other.

The reader has no doubt these two will find their HEA but how they will and what they have to battle to get there leads to a charming romp around England, complete with mentions of Shakespeare, Mozart, and other arts of the time and of history. The characters are well-read as the elite classes were in that time and we get to share the pleasure of their knowledge.

At times, the description around the dialogue tends to be overdone and a touch stilted, and there is some repetition that could have been avoided. I was also a bit bothered by the lingering feel of the story unravelling slowly through most of the book and then having the end feel rather rushed, introducing characters in the last scene we hadn’t yet heard of without knowing why they were suddenly there. Those are small things, though, compared to the enjoyment of the book as a whole. I have to think Ms. Waugh spent many, many hours researching the time period and its details since they came together unerringly in order to create such a realistic picture.

Blind Fortune is a beautiful first novel and I very much look forward to this author’s next effort.

Book Title : Faery Special Romances
Author : Jacquie Rogers
Publisher : Highland Press
Genre : Fantasy/Romance
Publication Date : 05/15/2007
ISBN : 10:0974624993, 13:978-0974624990
Pages : 280
Series : N/A
Category : sensual
Type : E-book and print

Reviewer : Kim Graham

4.5 Wings

A collection of ten short stories from different eras.

Faery Much in Love is in 1199. As punishment for past mistakes the Queen of Faeries Yana, sends Shayla to find Sir Darians true love. But she finds that his true love is even closer than she thought.

Much Ado about Faeries is set in 1599. Caedmom of the Golden Clan is the protector of the portal between Faery world and the human world. To keep this duty within his clan he needs to set out and win the love of his betrothed Gracie to produce an heir.

Faeries of the Caribbean is set in 1655. While working in a tavern, Myra just wants a little happiness, to be able to fall in love and to have a family. To her surprise, her Faery Godmother Keely hears her wish and sets her right in the middle of a pirate boat in the Caribbean.

Faery Thee Well is set in 1750. The Goddess of Harvest, Rhionne, is told by Queen Yana that she must bear the child of Lugh, the God of the Sun. But Lugh is human so Rhionne sets out to get Duncan Fletcher to believe who he is and to be her mate and to live in the Faery world.

My Faery Lady is set in 1815. Posing as Lord Kemball, Gryffyn greatly enjoys his job of making glasses. When three elderly ladies arrive to pick up their glasses he meets the niece of one of the ladies. Not one to really pursue a human lady, Effie captures Gryffyns heart.

A Faery Good Bet is set in 1850. Gwennyth of the Blue Clan is also the Healer for the Faery world. When Caedmom witnesses Zachary Dillon being beaten he brings him to Gwennyth to be healed. Bu,t unknown to both Gwennyth and Zachary, she gives too much of her healing powers to him. She hopes she can persuade him to return to Faery world to be with her and to save all Faeries.

The Duchess and the Dirtwater Faery set in 1885. Kegan would rather disobey the queen and live in the human world than be stuck in a marriage he doesn’t want. Moving to Dirtwater after the death of the Duke, the Duchess of Willoughton really wants her own life but a few mishaps and some surprises finds her and Kegan in a few interesting places.

Faery Foxy Flapper set in 1926. Jazzie of the Golden Clan loves to sing and dance. While trying to entice the owner of a club to hire her she needs to show that she can bring in the customers. At the same time, Quinn of the Rainbow Clan and his flying acrobats is making her job very difficult. But she finds she has an even harder job trying to get Blair, supposedly her true mate, to notice her while fighting her feelings for Quinn.

Faery Hot Date is set in 1968. Being a dentist keeps Sean really busy but being a tooth faery takes up all his time. Knowing he needs to find a mate who will put up with his busy schedule, he tries to find a Faery woman but he has a hard time getting Candi and her sweet daughter Moriah off his mind.

Faery Good Advice is set just after the frozen time. Keely finds herself a bit confused being in the middle of Tyler Grant and his fiancé. Should she tell him that his fiancé is marrying another man or go ahead and book their honeymoon trip so she can pay her past due bills? To add more to the confusion, when she meets Tyler she finds herself falling for him.

Ms. Rogers has done exceptionally well on this. Being swept away to different eras and different main characters, these stories still go great with each other. Ms. Rogers puts both action and humour in her stories that will keep you enchanted to the end.

Book Title : Jake’s Return
Author : Liana Laverentz
Publisher : The Wild Rose Press
Genre : Contemporary Romance
Publication Date : 2007
ISBN : 1-60154-124-4
Pages : 226
Series : N/A
Category : Sensual
Type : E-book/Print

Reviewer : skb

5 Wings

Bad boy Jacob Donovan returns home in disgrace after serving time for murder. The last person he expected to find still living in his small home town is Rebecca Reed, his former best friend and the girl he’d left after one night of passion.

Rebecca never believed Jake could be guilty of murder. The boy who’d always been her friend and protector when they were the town outcasts together; the same tender, loving man who’d given her their daughter Katie, could never have killed a woman.

But who is Jake now? Everyone wants to know, including the town council chairman, who is determined to send Jake back to prison by any means. Jake’s past experiences have kept him running from love for all of his life. Can he find the courage to defeat his demons and stay this time?

I loved this story! Liana Laverentz doesn’t disappoint her readers with Jake’s Return. The plot is intriguing and flows at a good pace. You’ll fall in love with the characters. Jake is strong, defiant, and vulnerable. Rebecca is warm and loving, but with an inner core of strength.

Ms. Laverentz has a wonderful way of describing her scenes without letting them overwhelm the characters. Her style of writing is easy to read and keeps your interest throughout the story. I didn’t want to put the book down, and at the end wanted more.

Jake’s Return is a must-read book full of passion and hope. Congratulations to Liana Laverentz for her accomplishment in writing a story that everyone can enjoy!

Book Title : Just Believe
Author : Anne Manning
Publisher : New Concepts Publishing
Genre : Fantasy
Publication Date : May 2009
ISBN : 1-58608-633-2
Pages :
Series : n/a
Category : Sophisticated
Type : ebook

Reviewer : Pam S

5 Wings

After a startling call from her mother, tabloid reporter Annabelle Tinker finds herself rushing to visit her sister Erin in the psychiatric ward. Erin claims that her boyfriend, Lucas, vanished into thin air, abducted by aliens. After hearing her sister’s story, Annabelle tries to soothe her by stating that she will investigate the disappearance of Lucas, knowing that he will turn up sooner or later. Her investigation lands her right in the path of Gaelen.

Gaelen Riley, University professor of Celtic lit, spends most of his time to himself, buried in his books, trying to forget his true faerie nature. Now he has been called by the Council for a formal meeting to discuss some pressing matters. His brother has made it on to the list as topic number three. Lucas has gone and committed a major transgression in the faerie world. He’s fallen in love with a mortal woman, a felony punishable by banishment. It was up to Gaelen to save him and Annabelle Tinker was the key.

As Gaelen and Annabelle are caught up in locating Lucas, watching over Erin, and dealing with a vengeful pixie, they find themselves in danger of breaking the rule that got them into this mess in the first place: a fairy and mortal can’t fall in love. Together they will take on the fairy establishment, a perverted fairy king, and the High Councillor to save Erin and Lucas, and their chance for love.

Just Believe by Anne Manning is a wonderfully written story filed with enchantment and beauty. It takes you on a journey of romance and magic, suspense and conflict, each page coming to life. The characters are charming and memorable, and the love they share touching. There are humorous moments and teary-eyed moments: this tale contains it all. Anne Manning is a talented writer whom I hope to read more of. She is sure to make a believer out of anyone that true love is worth fighting for.
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Book Title : A Different Kind of Honesty
Author : Jane Richardson
Publisher : The Wild Rose Press
Genre : Contemporary Romance
Publication Date :
ISBN : 1 60154 218 6
Pages : 272 pages
Series : n/a
Category : Sophisticated
Type : ebook and print

Reviewer : Lindsay Townsend

5 Wings

From its original, amusing opening, A Different Kind of Honesty is a compelling read. Joey Pescolloni, whom the heroine Maggie Lawless meets in a shady New York diner, is a darkly handsome, charismatic man. An instant connection arises between them, surprising them both. They come together in a night of unforgettable passion and then have to go their separate ways, Maggie returning to London (she is a detective sergeant in the Metropolitan Police) and Joey to his own job and life, but neither can forget the encounter.

Six months later, their jobs bring them together again, where ‘Joey’ is revealed as Tony Valentino, an FBI agent whom she met in his undercover role as Joey. However, as Tony tells her, “Look, Joey Pescolloni took you to dinner that night. But I promise you… it was Tony Valentino who made love to you.”

Jane Richardson writes beautifully. The scenes and encounters where Tony and Maggie come together again and recognise the basic honesty in their relationship are heart-stoppingly tense and at the same time tender. Her secondary characters are vivid and real, adding to the richness of this multi-layered novel. Above all, the theme of honesty and trust is threaded throughout, adding to tension and pace.

For there are also threats, some related to Tony’s previous undercover work and the added threat of distance – Maggie needs to return to the UK with her job, Tony has to remain in the States. And there are rumours of a Mob contract out on Tony…. Then there are other major blows for Maggie, who has already endured the loss of her parents, and Tony is forced into hiding, having to leave suddenly and without saying goodbye. Maggie is devastated and terrified that everyone she ever cares about is always lost to her – is Tony another lost love?

There are many twists and turns for Maggie and Tony on their separate and mutual life journeys but throughout them all the connection and emotional honesty remains constant between them. I read A Different Kind of Honesty in a single sitting, swept along by the power and colour of the story and the lively, complex characters. The ending is utterly romantic, a real three-hankie moment!

I look forward to reading more of Jane Richardson’s sophisticated, realistic and uplifting romances and re-reading her A Different Kind of Honesty.

Book Title : Magical Kisses
Author : Jewels of the Quill
Publisher : Whiskey Creek Publishing
Genre : Romance
Publication Date : February 2009
ISBN : 978-1-60313-521-4
Pages : 349
Series : See note in Review
Category : Contemporary
Type : Sweet

Reviewer : Melissa

5 wings

These six stories are about Magical Kisses that happen on Valentine’s Day, sweet stories of love found in the most unexpected places at the holiday every romantic celebrates with joy and excitement.

Magical Kisses by Carrie S. Masek (Dame Topaz) is a wonderful little story about a man who moves, meets his new neighbour, a quirky young woman who reads palms and tarots. While trying to find his soul mate for him she falls in love with him. A witty delightful story with great character development.

Telephone Tag Winner by Dee Lloyd (Dame Aquamarine) is a story about love lost and found, a wonderfully sweet tale of two people who drifted apart and are brought back together by a wrong number after an accident. It kicks off the Aquamarine Series with a start that pulls you into the town. The mystery woven into the love story as our doctor and photographer rediscover their love for one another keeps you reading one page after another.

Winning Sylvia’s Heart by Nancy Pirri (Dame Sapphire). This is the tale of two neighbours who find in each other the qualities of romance that they need. Wonderfully written and romance perfect for the season of Valentine’s Day.

The Third Kiss by Jane Toombs (Dame Turquoise). A family legend says that the man that is meant for the women in the family will kiss her three times, and the third time will be magical. It doesn’t always happen at once, and sometimes it takes almost a lifetime. A kiss he was dared into at 14 leads to a kiss of his choosing at 20. Several years and a lifetime pass before they see each other again.

Atop a Wedding Cake by Karen Woods (Dame Coral). A late in life romance that brings two people back together after a life time apart. Their children are marrying and there is dissension between the families with a premarital agreement. Love forms fairly quickly between these two old friends. I am not sure how believable it really it is, but the family interactions are very well done and very believable.

In Cahoots with Cupid by Karen Weisner (Dame Amethyst). This last story is about two people who have known each other most of their lives and is the second story in Karen’s Kaleidoscope Series. He has loved her since he was 7 years old and she was 11. He has been her most comforting friend, always there for her. But she had unwisely loved another and now feels she is unworthy. A great story with wonderful characters you really get tied up in.

I loved the Magical Kisses anthology and felt, for the Valentine Season, it was a delightful read that proved very enjoyable.

Book Title : Under A Viking Moon
Author : Tami Dee
Publisher : Desert Breeze Publishing Inc
Genre : Time travel, paranormal romance
Publication Date :
ISBN : 978 1 936000 265
Pages : 166 pages
Series : Mists of Time Viking Series
Category : Sensual
Type : e-book

Reviewer : Lindsay Townsend

4.5 Wings

Set in present day California and Iceland in 900 AD, Under A Viking Moon begins with a vivid and shocking act of murder and treachery. Through a misguided love, Katla betrays her betrothed Leif and so sets off a deadly series of events that will impact on the present day. According to her family, Katla has a child by her lover but, unable to live with what she has done, later commits suicide.

Katla (Kat) Jonsdottir is a direct descendant of that Katla. According to Kat’s grandmother, it is up to the modern Kat to make amends for her namesake’s misguided passion and actions. She must wait of the return of “him”, go with him wherever he goes and save Katla’s infant son “or all will be lost”.

She is given a key to find a vital clue, but her grandmother, slipping in and out of lucidity and dementia, has told her no more. Somehow Kat must discover which safe or deposit box will be opened by the key – and quickly, because she is having visions of an ancient, bloodied Norse warrior.

There is also the mystery of two pendants, both marked with the same rune, which are said to create powerful magic. Kat knows her family had such a pendant and that Leif had the other: what will happen if they are reunited again?

A week later she saves a man from drowning, a man dressed in Viking costume – or so she thinks. It quickly turns out that this huge, handsome Norseman is Katla’s betrothed Leif, who has somehow travelled a thousand years in time to the present day, and who thinks she is his treacherous betrothed. (The two women look alike.)

Leif is naturally confused, even though he has been told that the pendant he always wears represents the future. His efforts to adjust to his sudden time shift are amusing – the Norseman going clubbing is priceless – as well as exciting and intriguing. The differences between his attitudes and present day beliefs are well brought out and add to the stakes and power of the novel.

This is an intriguing story, grippingly told, with a high stakes romance woven through it and a compelling hero. Leif is an honorable, intelligent, generous, caring man and very fair-minded. Kat, the heroine, is appealing, loyal and brave, willing to take on modern criminals in her quest to save others. Throughout the novel, Kat and Leif also save and rescue each other – and they need to, especially when the secret of the key Kat holds is uncovered and later, through the united power of her newly-recovered pendant and Leif’s they are returned to his past. There, Katla’s resemblance to her namesake becomes deadly and the only way Leif can save her from his vengeful family is by claiming her as his slave. The brutality of that age is vividly shown, and also the hard choices families had to make in those difficult times.

A deadly enemy is also waiting for them both in Leif’s time, one who will stop at nothing, including murder. There is also the other Katla’s infant son, Arild, who could be a danger to them. If Leif kills an innocent child, Kat will never forgive him. If he finds the child and does nothing, will Arild grow to manhood hating Leif’s clan and determined to have his revenge on them?

The twists and turns of this novel are very satisfying and exciting and the romance is passionate and always believable while being also full of twists and turns. The ending is everything I hoped for and more.
I look forward to reading more of this exciting series from Tami Dee.